Canal+ Group’s French Channel C8, Which Airs Controversial Talk Show, to Be Discontinued by Broadcasting Regulatory Body

As a long-time French movie critic and avid follower of the country’s media landscape, I must admit that the recent decision by France’s broadcasting regulatory authority (Arcom) to not renew Canal+ Group’s frequency for its controversial talk show channel C8 comes as no surprise. Having closely watched the evolution of this channel over the years, I have seen firsthand how “Touche pas à mon poste,” hosted by Cyril Hanouna, has become a breeding ground for far-right ideologies and insults, often resulting in significant fines from Arcom totaling an estimated €7.5 million.


The widely watched talk show “Touche pas à mon poste” on Canal + Group’s channel C8 is at risk of being taken off the air.

The French regulatory body for broadcasting, Arcom, has chosen not to approve the renewal of TNT channel’s frequency for the Canal+ Group after consultations with executives from Vivendi’s TV division.

EbMaster reached out to us, but the Canal+ Group chose not to provide a statement in response. They have the option to challenge Arcom’s decision at the higher level of the State Council.

The eight-person Arcom board didn’t renew the frequencies for C8 and NRJ12 among the 15 channels they initially selected from a pool of 24 applicants. In simpler terms, these two frequencies were not approved by Arcom for renewal.

The frequencies belonging to Canal+ Group besides its conservative news channel CNews (comparable to Fox News in the U.S.) were approved for inclusion, but they must agree to a contract that Arcom will be finalizing and submitting shortly to the pre-selected 15 channels. This agreement will outline the responsibilities regarding broadcasting.

These frequencies come with a licence that lasts for an initial term of ten years. It’s possible to apply for a five-year extension after the first decade.

For several years, Arcom has kept an eye on the controversial talk show “Touche pas a mon poste,” hosted by Cyril Hanouna. The program has faced accusations from Arcom for boosting the profiles of far-right leaders, resulting in hefty fines estimated to be around €7.5 million. Last year, Hanouna was fined an unprecedented €3.5 million following a heated exchange with a French Insoumise party member and the use of insults. In preparation for the new season starting in September, the show’s producer, Gérald-Brice Viret, proposed that the program should be pre-recorded instead of being broadcast live.

Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, newly in possession of publishing group Editis following a purchase from Vivendi, has had two of his channel proposals selected prior to Arcom’s final consideration. Meanwhile, Canal+ Group stands to relinquish C8.

Launched in 2005, France’s TNT channels now represent more than 90% of TV audiences in France.

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2024-07-24 14:46